We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Roberto Duque. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Roberto below.

Alright, Roberto thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I always wanted to draw when I was a kid. Unfortunately, negative feedback from my parents and pursuit of other interests got in the way. I went to post-secondary school for Television production with a major in writing and producing. When I needed to draw a storyboard for a project, my classmates all saw that I can draw concise images. After that they all asked me to draw for their productions. This lit the fire for drawing again so I leaned into that.
Picked up a few art instruction books to further my knowledge. Started posting online and I would get commissioned for a few private pieces. Thinking this could become lucrative, I decided to jump into the world of comic conventions and artist alley. I had been attending for a few years and would ask for critiques from visiting artist guests. Whatever feedback I received fueled my desire to pursue this further. I bought a table for the 2011 Calgary Comic Expo. This was right before that particular show blew up in popularity, so I was able to squeeze in just in time. Again, when I told my parents I was giving this a try, they were characteristically negative and believed I wouldn’t make any money and fail.
The weekend of the convention came and my haphazardly put together table was set up with my various prints ranging from the Avengers to the Simpsons were displayed. To my surprise, the weekend was a professional success. That meant all my fees and expenses were recouped and I took home some profit. As a cathartic brag, I took the cash I had made and flaunted it to my parents to illustrate my success when they showed me no support.
Knowing my skills would only increase, I’ve been exhibiting at conventions ever since and growing my brand. I’ve now become an invited guest to my home show for the past few years.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For as long as I can remember, I have been drawing. I loved cartoons and comics and always found paper and a pencil to doodle and sketch. This also was a point of contention for my parents and teachers in school. As I went about life, different aspects of art would influence my work. They would be banked in my creative portfolio to use in future projects.

I am fortunate that I was getting into social media when I did. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and especially Instagram were the main sources to get my artwork to my audience. They also provided me ways to connect to my peers and learn new skills.

I did apply for art school but was not accepted. I took to art books and video tutorials to help with my skills and disciplines. When I would chat with my art colleagues and contemporaries, they confirmed that this is how they learned too, and that publishers and potential employers don’t care about your education. They care only for the finished product coming out on time and being of a certain quality.

Doing conventions for so long I’ve seen how my clients have evolved and changed. I started with providing art prints and private commissions. Today, I provide art services, apparel and collectables. I find it best to have a wide net of things to attract new fans and to give my established fans something different. I’m always on the lookout for new products to display my artwork so that my revenue streams are diverse.

A lot of the works I’ve done has been to adding skills to be a published artist. the biggest job I got was submitting and being chosen for the official art books for Ghostbusters, Stanger Things and Halloween. On top of my work with comic publishers and licensing material, these got me recognized for consideration at conventions as a guest. Which meant more visible eyes on my products.

Private commissions are my bread and butter. Being able to provide a piece of artwork to my client’s specific needs it paramount to my success. I get to create multiple art mediums and aspects of fandom to add to my knowledge and skill. This goes towards my ultimate goal of creating art as my main source of income.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Most people see a finished and complete product. They can’t grasp all the work that goes into it. Basically, the iceberg analogy. Art is taking a piece from the artist and sharing it with the world. As much as others claim that my line of work is considered “commercial” it does take years of skill, vast amounts of time and patience to create my art.
With the popularity of “AI Art” out there, the creation of art has become cheapened. The most basic element of the human condition is now a bunch of zeros and ones. Non creatives looking to express themselves using stolen expressions from unbeknownst artists is backwards. People claiming to love the characters from page and screen, not realizing that creating these computer-generated forgeries is limiting those creators’ opportunities and a livable income (which is harder and harder to do.)
On the commerce side I always look to the Cypress Hill lyric. “It’s a fun job, but it’s still a job.” I have to budget time and money, research the best avenues for success and make sure the quality is there to ensure the next job will be coming. It is cynical to believe that I’m doing it all for the money, but when running a business, regardless of size, I need to always have that in the back of my head to continue my creative endeavours.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve wanted to live a lavish lifestyle built upon my creations. I looked towards people like Todd McFarlane, Matt Groening and Larry David that have contributed to pop culture and have become household names. As I’ve become older, this dream is still there, but all I want is to have a comfortable life doing what I love. Sure, I’d love to make more than enough to take care of friends and family so the worry of everyday life goes away, but it seems to be a pipe dream as more opportunities go away and the competition gets more and more fierce.
I’m becoming more aware that I don’t want to be the next “X” but be the first “Me.” I’d like one day for people to mention me in conversation as their favourite artist of Spider-Man or loved an animated show I contributed to. Put great things out there and be able to live off it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.radpencils.com/
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/rad_pencils
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Radpencils/
• Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/roberto-duque-74644b77
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RAD_pencils
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@RADPENCILS
• Other: https://rad-pencils-shop.myshopify.com/

Image Credits

“Frankenstein and his Bride” & “Sleepy Hollow Headless Horseman” illustrated by Roberto Duque for the ‘House of Van Del’ collection (https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/HouseofVanDel)

“Slimer Surprise” illustrated by Roberto Duque for Printed in Blood’s ‘Ghostbusters: Artbook’